# Converging sequences (different problem - can you check our thought process?))

1. Jul 10, 2012

### mathscott123

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Suppose that a mathematically inclined child plays with a basket containing an infinite subset of integers (with some repetitions). If an integer k is present in the basket then there are initially |k| copies of it. The child pulls out the integers from the basket at random and arranges them in a sequence ak (a1 is the first integer the child pulls out, a2 is the second, and so on). He/she does not return the integers to the basket. Prove that the sequence bn = 1/an converges. What about a sequence cn = a(n+1) - an.

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
This is what my group and I came up with for our homework assignment - let us know what you think - thanks!
Given ε>0,choose a natural number M so that 1/M < ε. The set S = {k: |ak|<M} is finite, so max(S) exists. Let n = max(S) + 1. Then for all n > M, an does not belong to S, and hence |an| > M, and |bn|=|1/an| < 1/M < ε. Hence, bn converges to 0.

The sequence cn does not necessarily converge. For example, the basket could have exactly |k| copies of each integer k, and the sequence an could be the sequence of square an = n2. Then cn = 2n + 1, so the sequence diverges.

2. Jul 10, 2012

### jbunniii

I think you need to clarify what it means to choose "at random" from an infinite collection of integers. Assuming the collection is countably infinite, there's no way to assign a uniform distribution, so there must be some other distribution. But which one? The answer will depend upon this choice, no?

3. Jul 10, 2012

### jbunniii

Hmm, I guess the sequence bn = 1/an will converge regardless of what distribution is chosen.

Think about it this way. Given a natural number N, there must be some point in the sequence {an} beyond which there aren't any integers with absolute value less than N. This is because there are only finitely many such integers in the set. Each one either appears in the sequence or it doesn't. If it does, it must appear at some finite index. If it doesn't appear, then it is irrelevant to the problem.

What can you conclude from this?

 - Sorry, I forgot to read your proof. Yes, it looks mostly OK, although be careful that S could be empty if the child didn't choose any small numbers. In that case, max(S) is undefined. But you can simply choose n = 1 in that case. Your counterexample for c_n seems fine.

Last edited: Jul 10, 2012